Janice

“Are We There Yet?” Travel Games

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If you have traveled by car with children then you have probably heard those dreaded but famous words; “Are we there yet?”. When my children were young it didn’t take them long before they grew bored with the things they had brought to entertain themselves on the trip. This was a time before most hand held video games and Ipods.

So, to help pass the time we would play travel games like who could go through the alphabet first by watching the billboards and road signs. The words had to start with the letter they were on and only the person who saw it first could move on to the next letter. This kept them busy for a little while.

Here are several sites that have lots of games for traveling. You can print out the game sheets and instructions. Keep them in a pocket folder ready to go when the children pop the question. Have pencils and/or crayons in a ziplock bag or pencil box. You will also want either a clipboard, children’s lap drawing board, or some other hard surface for them to write on. With a variety of games in the pocket folder you can keep them busy for hours.

http://www.momsminivan.com/

http://familyfun.go.com/family-travel/road-trips/feature/famf48cargames/

http://travelgameideas.com/index.htm

http://travelwithkids.about.com/cs/printgames/a/gamesprint.htm

http://fun.familyeducation.com/games/travel-games/45743.html

Happy Traveling

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Traveling By Car

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It’s the height of vacation season. Are you getting ready to pack up and hit the road? Before you head out it is good to plan your packing so your travel light. They say if you add a lot of extra weight (luggage) you won’t get as good as gas mileage. Ok, I know it may only be pennies so that’s not usually a good reason. It’s better to pack light so all the luggage fits in the trunk. If you have ever traveled in the car with your feet squeezed between bags of extras and your children are packed tight in between backpacks, coolers, and other bags in the back seat then you are not packing light.

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When you pack your luggage for airplane travel you take only the essentials. After all, you have to drag the luggage from the car to the airline terminal and then from the airplane and/or luggage claim to a cab or rental car. Then into the hotel or other place you are staying. That’s a lot to lug around!

With a car we tend to pack more than we need because it’s like a mobile storage unit. We don’t have to totally unpack the car each night if we don’t want to. Don’t let yourself get in this mind set. Pack light and the car ride itself will be a lot more enjoyable. Plus, think of the leg room you’ll have.

I’m researching websites with lots of travel game ideas. I will post those either later today or tomorrow. If you plan ahead you can pull these games out when the kids start complaining “Are we there yet?”. Just print out the instructions and/or game sheets and have them ready to go.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Do You Feel Guilty For NOT Shopping?

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Most of us have been cutting back on our shopping because of the economy. Plus if you have been following my blog and newsletters (you can sign up on the sidebar) you are probably trying to cut some of the clutter out of your life.

But the stores are always tempting us with “fantastic” sales. We are told that a healthy economy is one where people are spending. So are we hurting the economy because we are cutting back on shopping? Do you feel guilty because of this?

In the past we would justify a spending spree because we felt we deserved the items. This was especially true if we were feeling down or were upset about something. Shopping helped fill the emptiness, at least for a short time. Soon many of those items became clutter. But we were helping the economy stay strong.

Once you start decluttering you will find you won’t need to fill the emptiness with things. You won’t want to bring the clutter back into your home. But now we may feel a pang of guilt for not helping the economy. Will this become the new excuse to buy things we really don’t need or want?

What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Craft Area Clutter

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Here is a copy of this week’s newsletter. Crafting is a popular hobby but one that can create a lot of clutter if it isn’t organized and controlled. Below is one way to organize your projects.

Decluttering Tips – Craft Area
Volume 2, Issue 25

An area lots of people have problems with clutter is the craft room. It could be a whole room or the corner of a bedroom closet. Either way, if you work on more than one project at a time, like most people I know, you need a way to keep it organized.
One easy way is to use zip-lock plastic bags and/or plastic containers. Small projects like needlepoint or cross stitch work well in plastic bags. Keep all the supplies and instructions for each project in a separate bag. Larger projects such as quilting or clothes sewing work well in the plastic containers. I’ve even used the 2 gallon size plastic zip-lock bags for clothes and home decoration projects. You can also use the jumbo zip-lock bags for the larger projects. They are easy to store under the bed or on a shelf.

Any craft projects that have sharp or bulky items such as jewelry making/beading, painting, scrapbooking, or other papercrafting projects are best stored in plastic containers. Be sure to put only the supplies you need for a particular project in to one box. That will make it easy to take out and work on it, then put it away when you are done.

Keep another box or basket handy that has the general tools you use for multiple projects. These might include scissors, pin cushion, thimbles, tape measure, and other general purpose items.

When you want to work on a project just grab your bag or box and the general tools basket. Go sit down and enjoy! When you are finished pack up your project and general tool basket and put them away until next time.

If you have a different way of dealing with the clutter in your craft area I would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment to share your ideas.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice Scissors
https://cutclutterwithscissors.com
http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Happy July 4th!

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It’s been beautiful weather here all week but of course it is pouring down rain today. So much for walks in the park or barbeques. Maybe it will stop long enough this evening for the firework shows around town. I hope the weather is better where you are.

If it isn’t do you have a plan B in place? If you are looking for things to do if the weather has interfered with your original plans then check out these sites. There are crafts, games, and fun facts about the history of our country. There are plenty of ideas to keep your children, grandchildren, or even your inner child busy.

http://holidays.kaboose.com/july-4/

http://fun.familyeducation.com/fourth-of-july/holidays/32874.html

I also want to let you know I have completed my eBook, “Best Tips From 2008”. I have taken the best newsletter tips and blog tips from last year and put them together by subject. Through out the year I jumped around from subject to subject according to the time of year and also to present a variety of tips.

Now if you need help with paper clutter all the tips can be found within a few pages. If you are getting ready to travel on your summer vacation then check out the chapter on travel tips.

Here is a brief list of some of the chapters: Paper Clutter, Garage and Garden, Clothes, Travel Tips, School Routines, and several more.

This is a free eBook for all subscribers to my newsletters. If you are a subscriber already then you should have received an email from me with the link for the download.

If you are not a subscriber then it is easy to become one. Just sign up on the right sidebar in the blue box where it says “Send Me Tips! to start receiving the newsletters. Every week you will receive tips to help you declutter and organize your home and life.

After you sign up you will receive the link for the eBook.

Have a Happy Fourth of July!

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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